Artwork
The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena
The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Agostino Carracci. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Galleria Borghese.
About this work
Overview
The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena is a 1596 painting by Agostino Carracci, a key figure in the early Baroque movement and co-founder of the Accademia degli Incamminati in Bologna.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the mystical experience of Saint Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century saint, depicting her in a state of ecstasy with symbols of her faith, including a crown of thorns, wounds, and a cross, emphasizing her spiritual devotion.
Technique & Style
Carracci's use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic effect, contrasting light and dark to convey the emotional intensity of the scene, characteristic of the emerging Baroque style and a departure from Mannerist conventions.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Galleria Borghese, reflecting its significance within the collection of Baroque art.
Context
The work aligns with the Carracci family's efforts to reform artistic practices through their academy, promoting a more naturalistic and emotionally charged style in response to the perceived excesses of Mannerism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agostino Carracci ( kə-RAH-chee, UK also kə-RATCH-ee, Italian: ; also Caracci; 16 August 1557 – 22 March 1602) was an Italian painter, printmaker, tapestry designer, and art teacher.
